Review: ‘The Dark Military’ is Tense, Raw, and Unrelenting

Loren W. Lepre’s feature film debut The Dark Military touches on a culture obsessed by violence as a form of spectacle for the world to devour. A busload of unsuspecting individuals are transported to an undisclosed location and it is becomes clear to us, very quickly, that they’re merely fodder for “The Dark Military,” an Anonymous-esque, but physically belligerent, organization bent on wreaking havoc this Halloween night through murder and mayhem. All the action will be captured on a live stream for the world to witness, in a game much like the classic The Most Dangerous Game infused with modern-day fare like The Purge series.

‘The Dark Military’

The film is interesting as it sets its slasher-flick sensibilities within the backdrop of a socially conscious message about violence, social media, spectacle, and voyeuristic entertainment. At times the authorities seem more compelled and drawn to the stream that is emblazoned on their screen, seemingly overcome by a lethargic inability to find the perpetrators of the crime. One by one the young adults, who are under the impression that they’re participating in a harmless game, are taken out by the clandestine group in violent ways, each more gruesome than the last. The militant group is burgeoning with sadistic psychopaths who want nothing more than to get their violent fix– and they accomplish just that.

Despite its dark and heavy overtones, The Dark Military is a fun low-budget flick that harkens back to the heyday of 1980s home video horror, with the added bonus of having a sleek modern look while incorporating elements of modern technology and its influence on our culture. The film is intense, sadistic, and raw and refuses to hold any punches playing out like a social satire on violence and the internet; The Dark Military comes at you with a flurry of attitude, confidence, and unwavering bravado led by writer and director Loren W. Lepre who also plays the poster-child of the “The Dark Military” the cool, cold, and calculating Barabbas.